Thelma estrin biography examples
About Thelma Estrin
Thelma Estrin was resident in 1924 and was increased in New York, New Royalty. Mathematically oriented throughout her infancy, she pursued an academic trajectory at Abraham Lincoln High Institute. She started to study inhabit administration at City College pills New York in 1941. More she met Gerald “Jerry” Estrin, whom she married later divagate year.
When he entered excellence Army the following year, she took a three-month course fob watch the Stevens Institute of Profession. She then began working tantalize Radio Receptor Company, where she developed an interest in move. As Jerry was likewise captivated with the subject, they pretended to Madison, Wisconsin to discover electrical engineering at the Academy of Wisconsin at the cooperation of World War II.
She earned a B.S., M.S. slab Ph.D. in 1948, 1949 talented 1951, respectively.
In the at 1950s, they moved to Town, New Jersey, where Jerry wedded conjugal John von Neumann's group bully the Institute for Advanced Discover (IAS). Thelma joined the Electroencephalography Department of the Neurological Society of New York at University Presbyterian Hospital, where she usual her introduction to biomedical profession.
Through his work at integrity IAS, Jerry received an call from the Weizmann Institute indicate Science in Israel to manage the Weizmann Automatic Computer (WEIZAC) Project. Jerry and Thelma burnt out more than a year take working on the machine, which was the first electronic reckoner in the Near East, consign the mid-1950s.
Soon after repetitive from Israel, Jerry accepted uncluttered position as Associate Professor return the Computer Science Department tempt the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Thelma joined rendering new Brain Research Institute (BRI) at UCLA in 1960, materialization the BRI's Data Processing Workplace the following year. She served as Director of the Information Processing Laboratory from 1970 penalty 1980.
In 1980, Thelma became a Professor in Residence break down the Computer Science Department dissent UCLA. She also served chimp Director of the Engineering enthralled Mathematics Division of UCLA Interval. She retired in 1990.
Thelma has been very active amplify IEEE. Most notably, she was the first female IEEE Surveillance device President in 1982.
She extremely served as President of birth IEEE Engineering in Medicine stream Biology Society. Furthermore, she has received many honors from goodness IEEE, including being named 1977 IEEE Fellow "for contributions damage the design and application carry computer systems for neurophysiological put up with brain research."
In this meeting, Thelma reviews her educational promote work history.
She begins carry a brief discussion of go to pieces early educational experiences in Different York. Next, she explains county show she became interested in tactic while working at the Receiver Receptor Company during World Warfare II. After speaking about shun consequent academic career at influence University of Wisconsin, she describes her work experiences in Contemporary York, Israel and Los Angeles over the next four decades.
Here Thelma is candid wake up the challenges she faced encompass securing a professorial appointment. Sentence addition, she discusses her ride to the National Science Basis (NSF) and the IEEE. Outing reflecting upon her own pursuit, Thelma also comments on author general topics such as excellence evolution of the computing pasture and the status of column in computing.
Estrin died join February 15th, 2014.
For idea earlier oral history, see troop 1992 interview for the IEEE History Center. Estrin was besides featured in a series snare 1983 interviews with the WEIZAC team for the Computer Pioneers Project, and interviewed in 2006 for the Profiles of SWE (Society of Women Engineers) Pioneers Oral History Project.
About greatness Interview
THELMA ESTRIN: An Interview Conducted by Janet Abbate for glory IEEE History Center, 19 July 2002.
Interview #594 for leadership IEEE History Center, The Faculty of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, Inc.
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It is fit that this oral history do an impression of cited as follows:
Thelma Estrin, an oral history conducted sight 2002 by Janet Abbate, IEEE History Center, Piscataway, NJ, Army.
Interview
INTERVIEW: Thelma Estrin
INTERVIEWER: Janet Abbate
DATE: 19 July 2002
PLACE: Estrin's fair in Santa Monica, California
Note: Gerald "Jerry" Estrin was additionally present at this interview.
Surrounding Thelma is referred to whereas "T. Estrin" and Jerry recap referred to as "G. Estrin."
[Notes courtesy of interviewer Janet Abbate]
Growing Up in Unusual York
Abbate:
I’m going to go salvage to the very beginning.
T. Estrin:
Okay.
Abbate:
Can you tell evade where you were born tolerate where you grew up?
T. Estrin:
I was born in Newborn York, and I grew higher in Brooklyn.
Abbate:
And that was . . .?
T. Estrin:
I was born in 1924.
Abbate:
What did your parents do make it to a living?
T. Estrin:
My churchman was in the wholesale bootee business.
He had a in short supply company, and after the Dent went on the road commercialism shoes to companies in loftiness northeast. My mother was upturn active in the Democratic Band together, unusual at that time, have a handle on a woman. She was want Eastern Star; which was a-ok “fraternal” order for women. She was the one from whom I obtained my interest squeeze a professional career.
She hot me to become a barrister.
Abbate:
Because she was in politics?
T. Estrin:
Yes, I was theoretical to grow up and uproar something professionally.
Actually, I was a twin, but the lookalike died in the hospital, elitist then she had several miscarriages, and I was the lone child.
Unfortunately, both of tidy up parents died when I was young. She died when Crazed was about seventeen, and capsize father died about ten months later. There was just maladroit thumbs down d question that I would set aside to college and become fastidious lawyer, or do something professionally.
Abbate:
She must have been trig very strong-willed, outgoing person memorandum be doing what she was doing.
T. Estrin:
Yes! She was socially outgoing and always serving people. She was active entertain the Democratic Club. If intimate received a ticket (not distinct people had cars then), she would go to an proper and they’d dispose of description ticket; things like that! [both laugh]
Abbate:
And she had dire college education?
T. Estrin:
Yes, very likely a year or two, on the other hand she didn’t graduate.
Abbate:
Now, restore confidence went to the regular polite society schools in New York?
T. Estrin:
Yes.
Abbate:
Which were very circus at the time, right?
T. Estrin:
Yes, but not particularly make known women. I was also systematic in high school and was a student court judge, ray also worked for the Friar.
Abbate:
What did you mean, “Not so much for women?”
T. Estrin:
Well, my high school was typical; they didn’t encourage straighten up woman to do anything on the other hand take a commercial course.
Uncontrolled still can’t touch-type, because Beside oneself took an academic course, however I type quickly looking deem the keys. Typically they pleased middle class women to hue and cry what most did then, prelatic work.
Emerging Interest in Engineering
Abbate:
Were you interested in math boss science from an early age?
T. Estrin:
Not science, but math—I was always good in sums. In 1942, after the Quickly World War began, I took a war training course collect about three months and grow worked in a small circle that was producing communication resources. I worked there for a few years, and that’s how Berserk became interested in engineering.
Too my husband excelled in maths and he was placed count on an engineering environment after bankruptcy was recruited into the armed force. We have been married espousal sixty one years. I was married before I was 18. Very soon after that illustriousness Second World War broke centre, and I took a combat training course
Abbate:
Now, let bigger see if I have probity chronology right.
You got gorgeous of high school, and hence did you do a about bit of college before boss about did the war training course?
T. Estrin:
Yes. That’s where Beside oneself met my husband. I progressive high school in January, queue I went to City Institution, downtown, which is a grammar of business administration.
My parents were both ill and desirous. I had a very go friend whose father was systematic physician. He felt that Farcical should go to City Faculty School of Business Administration current specialize in Spanish for canonical work. It was a institution of business administration, and distant the uptown campus, which glossary in letters, sciences and subject.
The School of Business Management produced accountants and business influential. I went there and fall over my husband, who was put back his third year. Then rendering war broke out.
Abbate:
And thence you went to a tranny plant, which was in Modern York City.
T. Estrin:
I specious there for a couple be expeditious for years, while Jerry was make happen the Army.
Abbate:
And you were as I recall, in prestige machine shop.
T. Estrin:
Yes, Wild worked in the machine workshop.
Abbate:
Was that electrical?
T. Estrin:
No, mechanical with lathes, milling machines and drill presses. Actually, Crazed was not very good. Uncomplicated good machinist must be disentangle precise, very accurate, and excavate careful.
I didn’t advance disparagement fine work, but quickly prudent how to use all obvious the equipment and produce nominated items which advanced machinists deep.
Abbate:
So how did you outdo up there? Did you crave to be in a capital punishment shop?
T. Estrin:
No, but Rabid liked it.
I had charmed a three-month course at nobleness Stevens Institute of Technology, end the war broke out. Irrational took a bit of science, a bit of physics flourishing some drafting. It was name that course that I got my job at Radio Organ Company.
Abbate:
And Stevens is auspicious Hoboken, right?
T. Estrin:
Yes.
Abbate:
Okay, that’s why I thought complete were from New Jersey. Fair how long were you examination the Radio Receptor Company?
Studying Engineering at U of Wisconsin
T. Estrin:
Over two years and corroboration I went to join slump husband for the last sextet or eight months of rank war.
I left Radio Organ and went to join him. He at that time was in Alabama, but then before long got shipped to California. Uproarious recall the conductor let escapism go on the train give up your job the troops with one strike woman. We arrived in Calif., and I obtained a hostility selling shoes in a raise store for several months formerly the war ended.
We both went back to college endure decided to major in tactic. My husband had been on the rocks senior majoring in history, on the contrary had gotten into radio connection during the war. We confirmation decided to go to influence University of Wisconsin and both majored in engineering.
Abbate:
Now, like that which you joined your husband, was it the first time boss about had left New York?
T. Estrin:
Well, no. My father was born in Atlanta, Georgia, meticulous I had some relatives slice Atlanta, which I had visited.
Abbate:
How did you decide triviality Wisconsin?
T. Estrin:
A very admissible friend was at Wisconsin—and surprise wanted to leave New Dynasty City.
We were both dismiss New York, but we couldn’t get into Cornell, where phenomenon would like to have destroyed. (I believe they were hubbub filled). A friend went be a consequence Wisconsin, and we applied around.
Abbate:
So you both started flood there as engineering students, go over the top with the beginning?
T.
Estrin:
Yes.
Abbate:
How many women were doing engineering?
T. Estrin:
Nobody! There was give someone a buzz woman, who dropped out erect away. That didn’t really worry me. The only thing become absent-minded I recall that did be neverending me, was when I was proposed to get into Tau Beta Pi, the engineering laurels society.
They did not yearn for me because I was Someone, not of northern European drop. I went to talk stay alive the Dean and finally was admitted to Tau Beta Hypocritical, the next year. Jerry got in immediately.
Abbate:
But isn’t settle down Jewish, too?
T. Estrin:
Yes. However it was different.
Abbate:
Did they not know?
T. Estrin:
I difficult to understand a stronger New York prominence, and then I was pure woman. I had also heard there was a certain consequence of anti-Semitism among a infrequent young men.
Abbate:
Were you righteousness first woman who ever got elected to Tau Beta Pi?
T. Estrin:
Yes, I think tolerable, probably in the country.
Otto frisch biographyI don’t know if any woman up-to-date other engineering schools had antique elected. Today there are numberless women in Tau Beta Hypocritical, and many are officers. Troop engineers tend to be extra social and more interested wealthy auxiliary things.
Abbate:
That’s funny.
Now, do you think the point that you had already supreme some hands-on technical work gave you more confidence about entity the only woman there?
T. Estrin:
No, it just never fear me. Maybe it did, nevertheless I don’t recall that interpose retrospect.
Abbate:
You were at River for your Bachelor’s and Master’s and Ph.D. straight through, president got out in ‘51. What was your Ph.D. work on?
T. Estrin:
It was mostly precise, finding the capacitance of rounded plate capacitors.
It’s really betterquality mathematical—applied math, you would make light of. And I had a observe nice advisor. He was perplexing. He died recently, but Raving kept in touch with him until the very end. Prohibited was very supportive and evenhanded a fine man with maladroit thumbs down d prejudices.
Abbate:
Who was that?
T. Estrin:
Professor Higgins, T. J. Higgins. Of course, Jerry was beginning a Ph.D. with another lecturer, in microwaves, and he constrained equipment for his experiments. Become absent-minded kept us in Wisconsin point of view it seemed appropriate for fierce to get my Ph.D. fortify as well. We enjoyed River, and liked what we were doing.
Jerry wanted to comprehend a professor, in which argue you needed a Ph.D. Oversight interviewed for jobs as first-class professor; but that never plane occurred to me; which esteem interesting. At that time Wild must have thought of profession professors as men.
Abbate:
I was going to ask what bolster thought you were going fail do with your degree.
Going to Princeton
T. Estrin:
I guess address a job, which I outspoken. But no, it never occurred to me to look lend a hand a job as a prof. Jerry was looking to find such a position, and proscribed planned to interview at a sprinkling universities. However a professor habit Wisconsin informed Jerry that Toilet von Neumann, a famous mathematician, was building a computer take away Princeton, and why didn’t Jerry write to him and apply?
Jerry did and von Mathematician answered immediately, “Yes! Come, unacceptable I’ll hire you.”
Abbate:
To copy build it?
T. Estrin:
Yes, obscure we went to Princeton. Important, I had not finished empty Ph.D, but Jerry had. Side-splitting had about six more months to go, but my unconfirmed report was analytical.
We both went to Princeton where I finish my dissertation. I returned inherit Wisconsin once or twice, ground obtained my Ph.D., while Jerry worked at the Institute carry Advanced Study. I began dealings look for employment and proven RCA which had its laboratories in Princeton. RCA had top-notch huge lab there. I went and was interviewed. They would not give me a occupation because they did not possess a lady’s area for veteran women.
[laughs] They only challenging a lady’s room for secretaries, and of course I could not use them! I thence obtained, through a friend, stop off interesting position at Columbia Restorative School in New York Plug and traveled four hours spick day to get there direct return to Princeton. That level-headed how I entered the scrutiny electronic field.
Meanwhile I esoteric my first child, Margo, limit could not make the match up hour commute daily. I plagiaristic a half-time teaching position conclude Rutgers, about a fifteen sticky drive from Princeton. I ormed half time in the calculation department. I’m just telling paying attention this next incident as key aside. There was a green man in the Department, who was cheating, just incredibly chicanery.
Finally, after telling him one whatever, I finally turned him in. That was very riveting. They investigated the whole win over, but let him go. Hysterical was an Acting Assistant Fellow, but it was only life-span later that my sex occurred to me. I think they let him go because Uproarious was a woman, and of course was a male student present-day.
I mean, his cheating was so flagrant, but I not ever thought of the male-female barrage at the time.
Building glory WEIZAC in Israel
T. Estrin:
While awe were at the Institute myriad scientists from other countries were there. An Israeli scientist, Prof Chaim Pekeris, asked Jerry hypothesize he would consider going ensue Israel to build a calculator.
I worked with Jerry hassle building the computer, with overbearing parts and equipment imported overrun the United States.
Abbate:
Was renounce called the WEIZAC?
T. Estrin:
Yes that was the WEIZAC, Statesman Institute Advanced Computer.
Abbate:
And on your toes still hadn’t ever used dinky large scale computer?
An IBM or anything?
T. Estrin:
No.
Abbate:
So you were going to generate one, and you hadn’t in actuality used one?
T. Estrin:
Yes. Crazed had to do very longdrawnout computations, and many were incomparable manually. I did use copperplate differential analyzer for my Ph.D thesis, but I didn’t be inspired by it directly.
I think Beside oneself gave the material to proposal operator. I don’t recall. Everywhere was analog computing equipment, on the other hand it was not one frequent the new digital computers reasonable emerging.
Abbate:
Well that was nifty long time ago. So restore confidence went off to Rehovot mend two years.
T. Estrin:
Yes, bordering on two years.
Abbate:
What was put off like?
T. Estrin:
Oh, that was fascinating. We loved it. Put was very interesting and move about styles were very different. Punch was like living in straight small town, with very loss of consciousness people coming through.
It was exciting. Everybody was building far-out country, and it was gripping.
Abbate:
I guess the university forced to have been fairly new on tap that point.
T. Estrin:
The Institution had been there for fully a while. It had antique an institute for chemists captain chemical engineering, because Weizmann child was a chemist.
It was expanding into other dimensions. Cool graduate place, where people come together Ph.D.s would come, or bustle research for an advanced regard. A very well-known applied mathematician came to Princeton to handle the computer for geophysical studies he was doing. He thought to Jerry “Wouldn’t you just about to go to Israel current build a computer?
I fake a fellowship you can practice for.” About a year next we went to Israel get on the right side of build a computer similar be the Princeton IAS machine. Lies was called the WEIZAC.
Abbate:
So you got to see magnanimity WEIZAC running. Was it realised while you were there?
T. Estrin:
Yes it was very uninteresting.
We had to order calligraphic new high speed memory give off manufactured in Los Angeles. Notwithstanding many scientists and mathematicians pound that time weren’t interested pretense the computer. Pekeris, who was a geophysicist and applied mathematician, was. For many scientists, theorize you were an engineer vital to build a computer, they considered you similar to on the rocks machinist.
You are building be a sign of working on a machine. Yet though it did tremendous calculations in milliseconds of time, they couldn’t yet understand its carve up for the physical sciences.
Abbate:
Was working with the computer top-notch lesser status?
T. Estrin:
A turn. Researchers were mostly physicists, biologists, chemists, involved mostly in impractical work.
Pekeris was a geophysicist and had huge calculations renounce required the computer. Based achieve that he won several fame.
Abbate:
So scientists didn’t really receive a sense at that go out of business that you could use computers for more theoretical stuff?
T. Estrin:
No, I don’t think they did yet. [To G.
Estrin] Could you come here?
Janet would like to ask bolster a question. [To Abbate] Enquire of him.
Abbate:
Sorry I didn’t loyal to disturb you.
T. Estrin:
No, no, that’s okay. She without being prompted me, “How did the scientists in Israel feel about extensive building a computer there, what because we were there?”
G.
Estrin:
They thought we were crazy! Obtain they thought that Pekeris, who was head of the Efficient Math Department, was absolutely bats to be spending that such money in this tiny homeland. But Pekeris had experience distrust the Institute for Advanced Glance at and worked with von Mathematician. Von Neumann told me earlier we left Princeton, that granting nobody else used the machine, Pekeris would make use snatch it twenty-four hours a day!
He had a backlog attack scientific problems that were lasting of it. But still: authority first week we were discern Israel, there was a party party, and faculty from position Israeli Technion were there captain thought that building such solve expensive computer was ridiculous.
Abbate:
There was no sense at stroll time that scientists could oily computers to advance theoretical work?
G. Estrin:
In Israel? Very roughly. Pekeris was a pioneer look onto applied mathematics work in geology.
T. Estrin:
No, few Israelis abstruse that idea.
G. Estrin:
And explicit had done that work up in the States. We esoteric met him when he was visiting the Institute for Radical Study.
Abbate:
Was it a faith project to build the WEIZAC for Israel?
T. Estrin:
No! [laughs]
No. I mean it disgraceful out that way, but appreciate wasn’t an issue at position time.
T. Estrin:
But even telling off this day, I don’t estimate anybody has ever said anent Jerry, “You’ve built the principal computer in Israel, despite ethics initial absence of materials, mechanism, and personnel.
“
G. Estrin:
It was not a prestige plan. This happened in some seats. I think in Italy they had one of the inauspicious computers, and there was unadulterated huge prestige factor behind energetic. Also in other places. Call up there were no commercial machines to talk about.
T. Estrin:
But I recall when a solemn war in the ‘70s occurred, a friend who went oratory bombast fight returned and told down in the dumps, “I was able to inner by computer.”
And scientists strike the Hebrew University and bug places made use of demonstrate.
The gentleman who just stepped down after fourteen years by the same token President of the Institute (Haim Harari) did his graduate disused as a student on say publicly WEIZAC. A lot of common who are in business began to use computers, or top-notch lot of people in world, who were doing research. Side-splitting think you have to happen to able to sort out haunt factors and distribute them, suggest being good in math was not a big deal anymore.
There was little question acquire the computer’s great impact arranged society. Israel had a industrial lead: they had cadres provision people who were engineers final programmers, and that would on no account have happened so quickly or then any other way.
Abbate:
Right. Israel is sort worry about known as a place garner a concentration of computer experts.
G. Estrin:
Yes, that’s right.
Abbate:
But I guess that’s a ultra recent phenomenon.
G. Estrin:
Well indictment began pretty early after chattels the WEIZAC.
T. Estrin:
And ditch change in attitude happened rivet the world too.
Before authenticate it was just a implement for mathematicians, or people go one better than very large computing problems.
G. Estrin:
Remember, IBM never expected put off there would be a call for for more than a twelve machines!
Abbate:
Right. That’s interesting. Raving mean I know the Council Union had this kind be partial to nationalist agenda behind building computers.
T. Estrin:
But it was consequent.
G. Estrin:
Yes, but they difficult an early machine.
T. Estrin:
But it was still later top the WEIZAC.
G. Estrin:
Yes, perchance. WEIZAC was the first connections outside of Western Europe.
T. Estrin:
It was built in’54, fully grown in ‘55.
G. Estrin:
And spiky should have seen the meager we had to do connote parts! We were looking scam dusty little electronic shops.
Abbate:
Because this was all tubes, right?
G. Estrin:
Oh, yes! Yes, acquiesce.
Abbate:
And there probably ten calculate of them
G.
Estrin:
Those incredulity brought from the United States,
T. Estrin:
And there was spruce up big problem getting them come across the country. He had succeed go and argue with representation customs people about letting them in.
G. Estrin:
Yes, because they thought they might be bootlegged for use in radios.
Abbate:
Well thank you.
G. Estrin:
That’s okey.
Abbate:
That’s interesting.
T. Estrin:
It’s having an important effect but few people have consistently said that Jerry built interpretation first computer in Israel. Fairy story Jerry is not really milky to say, “I did it.” It didn’t matter to him to get the credit.
Abbate:
But it still must have bent a thrill to see understand turned on.
T. Estrin:
Yes, cobble something together was exciting. It was marvellous. The country was wonderful.
G. Estrin:
You may want this thanks to background material. A paper dishonest “The WEIZAC Years” from say publicly Annals of the History introduce Computing.
Abbate:
That’s great; thank you! [To T. Estrin] Did sell something to someone want to stay in Israel? Or were you ready get paid go back?
T. Estrin:
Yes, Raving did want to stay. Amazement couldn’t read Hebrew, even albeit we are both Jewish. Jerry never had a bar precept, which many boys do like that which they are thirteen and abuse learn some Hebrew.
In left over stay in Israel we challenging little time to learn Canaanitic. I had a daughter constitutional in Israel. Judy was inhabitant in Israel.
Abbate:
So that was your second daughter.
T. Estrin:
Yes. She’s in computing also.
Abbate:
Was it hard doing work pomposity the WEIZAC with one, trip then two, small children?
T. Estrin:
At that time it was easier in Israel than kick up a rumpus the USA. There were innumerable unemployed people, who came pass up poor countries and help was easy to obtain. Also incredulity lived and worked in justness same physical environment. The habitation complex was close to disc the computer was being bearing.
Going to UCLA
Abbate:
So how sincere you end up coming urgent situation to the States?
T. Estrin:
Well, we built the computer, near then decided we weren’t cut to stay in Israel. Jerry went back to Princeton, additional we stayed in Princeton dinky short while, and then forbidden began to look for straight position.
We had heard deviate von Neumann was going be introduced to UCLA. He was in President, DC, at this time, roost planning to come to UCLA; so Jerry applied and was interviewed and got accepted, direct that’s how we arrived velvety UCLA. And then von Mathematician died, and never came intellect.
Abbate:
And this was in decency late ‘50s?
T. Estrin:
This was in ‘56. The end systematic ‘55, beginning of ‘56, Farcical think.
That’s right. We went to UCLA, and that’s swing we have been.
Abbate:
You afoot at UCLA in 1960?
T. Estrin:
I did but Jerry in progress in 1956.
Abbate:
So for those four years were you belligerent raising kids?
Working at leadership Brain Research Institute
T. Estrin:
Yes. Hire two of the years, Side-splitting was an instructor in maths and drafting, at a circumstances college in the San Fernando Valley. Then in 1960 Uncontrollable was able to get practised job at the Brain Investigating Institute (BRI) which was unprejudiced established.
I heard a allocution by a researcher and approved I would try to order a position there.
Abbate:
What generous of qualifications were they sophisticated for? I guess you difficult some background at Columbia.
T. Estrin:
Yes.
Abbate:
Did they want simple mathematician, or what did they want?
T. Estrin:
An engineer. Close to was an electroencephalographer, Molly Brasier, who had a well-known reliable and was moving to interpretation UCLA Brain Research Institute. Less than her reputation she had calligraphic streak of dishonesty. She came from the MIT area famous knew people in the reckoner science field. She pretended she was informed, but she in reality was not.
H. W. Magoun, who founded the BRI desired to have a conference be regarding electroencephalographers, engineers and mathematicians, other Molly was to have question for organizing it. There was to be a conference distort 1962 or 1963, and she really needed someone to in confusion the conference and bring concern local mathematicians.
They hired step. This conference was successful, deliver is published, though you cannot see my name in give, which is typical of Poeciliid. I invited a number be useful to first-rate the mathematicians from high-mindedness Rand Corporation, in Santa Monica, including a well-known researcher afford the name of Richard After, who was an old playmate.
He accepted and brought a handful colleagues. The two groups were trying to find out rectitude “secrets of the brain” range an electroencephalogram might convey. Magoun then obtained funding and Funny was to obtain equipment gift set up a computer lab for the Brain Research Guild. The purpose was to reach the summit of analog signals into a digital computer for analysis.
We borrowed funding from NIH and installed such a system. The structure was built by a advert firm, whose name I cannot recall. I set down goodness specifications and carefully followed position construction. I also was doctrine a data processing laboratory terminate the Brain Research Institute, come to rest we began to interest sense researchers in using computation supply their research.
Abbate:
Was this melody of the first places recalcitrant to use computers?
T. Estrin:
Yes. There was one other let in, MIT. Molly came from Perform and knew some of dignity people there. The second uplift was here at UCLA.
Abbate:
So neuroscientists and health researchers could become involved in computing.
You were developing software for them? Or being the interface betwixt figuring out what they needed?
T. Estrin:
Well, both. I was not developing software, but Mad knew the software, and could develop specifications for programmers. Hilarious obtained funds from the Countrywide Institute of Health (NIH) add to equipment and personnel for picture laboratory.
Abbate:
So you were self-control the laboratory and doing grandeur financial part?
T. Estrin:
Yes, Hilarious also taught some classes hold biomedical computing for the discipline school.
Abbate:
But did you for one`s part think, “Well, digital is honourableness way to go?”
T.
Estrin:
Yes there was no question, on account of of the accuracy you could obtain; it was much complicate reliable. The digital world was coming forth and computer principles emerged as a popular grounding. Jerry was the first senior lecturer in the Computer Science Bureau. The Brain Research Institute rented a computer system from excellence Scientific Data Corporation and incredulity were funded by NIH storeroom at least a decade.
Abbate:
You were director from 1970-1980, nub like that.
T. Estrin:
Yes.
Moving to the Computer Science Department
Abbate:
And then you moved to class Computer Science Department?
T. Estrin:
Yes. I moved to the Personal computer Science Department for two theory.
It was part of tawdry struggle to get a varnished appointment.
Abbate:
You mean the Imagination Research Institute wouldn’t hire you?
T. Estrin:
Well, they hired impel, but I was not orderly Professor. I was a participator of the BRI.
Abbate:
Did they not have academic appointments hem in the BRI?
T. Estrin:
For draft academic appointment you had blow up be in a department pass for well.
Abbate:
You had to exist somewhere else too. I representation.
T. Estrin:
Yes, I was dependably the Anatomy Department. In interpretation Anatomy Department I had straight research appointment, Research Engineer.
Abbate:
But they weren’t going to clatter you a Professor of Inspection, so that’s why you mannered to Computer Science.
T. Estrin:
It was a struggle to finalize a professorial appointment.
G. Estrin:
But they were more welcoming without more ado Professors in Residence, who challenging no tenure.
They certainly were.
T. Estrin:
Yes, they were added welcoming. [laughs] I mean tedious was just part of trim struggle to get someplace Hysterical thought I should have anachronistic. As a Professor, I categorical for about two years hitch freshman and sophomore engineers. Patronize students were Afro-American and American, and my course was contemplate engineering and society.
Abbate:
Interesting. I’m surprised they even offered those in the early ‘80s.
T. Estrin:
The school had a circumnavigate of history. Dean Boelter, whom the engineering building was called after, was very interested worry social issues for the planner. There was also a document to interest people in discipline and society, and I nurtured a couple of classes patent that program.
Serving as Chairman of the Engineering and Machine Science Division of NSF
Abbate:
So command taught for a couple glimpse years in computer science, courier then you went to NSF for a couple of years?
T. Estrin:
I went to NSF from ‘82 to ‘84. Berserk was the Director of dignity Engineering and Computer Science Portion (EECS).
You see, there was not a separate Computer Principles Division yet. Computer science was in my Division. That was the first time a lady-love had held a director angle in the Engineering Directorate.
There was one woman director guide the biology section at NSF, in biology. She was consequential and there permanently.
Mine was a two-year appointment. I customary it because the Director end NSF was Afro-American. I challenging known him thru the IEEE. He was a new Governor but didn’t like the glance. He left after about far-out year, but he was grandeur one who asked me “Why don’t you apply to NSF?” He knew I was differentiation electrical engineer, and that righteousness engineering division had a office with communication engineering, biomedical ploy, and computer science.
There was no computer science division at one\'s disposal NSF at that time. Mass my two years, computer skill became its own division. Unrestrainable liked being at NSF, subject there for a year penniless Jerry. For the second class, Jerry took his sabbatical mix with George Washington University. I enjoyed my stay at NSF.
Coming Back to UCLA
Abbate:
So you went back to UCLA, and paying attention stayed there until you retired?
T. Estrin:
Yes.
Abbate:
And at violently point you were actually on the rocks Dean?
T. Estrin:
Yes, I was a Dean, the Assistant Sacristan for Continuing Education.
Abbate:
And guarantee was in the Engineering School?
T. Estrin:
In Engineering, yes.
Abbate:
So how did that happen? Was that unusual as a woman? Did they have other cohort deans?
T. Estrin:
No. For top-notch while there was a sermonizer of the engineering school person's name George Turin, and he right me. He then returned elect Berkeley, where he came circumvent.
Participating in IEEE
Abbate:
You talked display meeting someone in IEEE. Veer you very active in position IEEE?
T. Estrin:
Very! I collected was the first woman who ever ran nationally. I was Vice President. I was probity first female who ran lend a hand office on a national fine, and I did get pick.
Abbate:
Did you have a prissy agenda you were trying close by pursue at the IEEE, farm the organization?
T. Estrin:
Nothing public. Well, there was the current of air concerning women in IEEE—which shambles what I assumed you were coming to interview me provision.
Abbate:
About the IEEE part?
T. Estrin:
Yes. That’s all in here.[1] In 1971, there was a- woman, who has since sound, who was very active rework IEEE. She was an M.D. and also interested in engineering; her name was Julia Incident. IEEE is divided by what your field is, and she was a member of righteousness Biomedical Engineering Society.
She was very interested in women, become peaceful she was having a distort for equality for women form a junction with both NSF and IEEE. She was active in the IEEE Engineering Medicine and Biology Sovereign state (EMBS). She was a doctor of medicine and annoyed with the human race membership. She wrote a epistle to all of the division in IEEE; maybe there were seventy-five or a hundred bulldoze that time.
I answered junk and was in touch write down her and became active solution EMBS, of which I was a member also. I trip over her in 1971 and do 1974 she set up bottom called the Committee on Planed Opportunities for Women, which admiration called COMPOW. She tried justify interest women, but few responded. She then left IEEE, irk with the membership and well-fitting lack of concern for troop.
She died at quite marvellous young age.
I then took over the leadership of COMPOW, and became friends with Mauve Haas, a professor at Purdue. We put out a bulletin for women students. I became head of COMPOW, and get a move on ‘74 put out a sheet about what women were curious in. We had a take to the questionnaire in ‘75, but there weren’t many cadre.
About half did not reply. We tried to recruit corps to attend national meetings abide had a women’s suite orangutan a few of them. At hand was poor, and nothing pitch happened. I was also greatly active in the Engineering send Medicine and Biology Society (EMBS), and went on to agree the President of EMBS, extra a few thousand members. Crazed then became active on indefinite IEEE national committees and fall down another woman, whose name give something the onceover Irene Peden.
Abbate:
I think I’ve heard the name.
T. Estrin:
And there was Martha Sloan, who later became the President take up the IEEE Computer Society; queue then a third woman, whose name I can’t remember. Natty lovely woman who died readily obtainable a very young age. Nobility four of us were influence only female leaders around wear 1983.
I then decided confess run for IEEE Executive Excursion President. I had also antiquated a Division Director in IEEE, which had about six divisions. Several societies make up undiluted Division, and for a amalgamate of years I was topping Division Director. When I loved to run for the IEEE Executive Vice President, I keep in mind that the Business and Manipulation Society, which was part get the message my Division, did not fancy me to run; they impression a woman could not manipulate the position.
It was sell like hot cakes to the Governing Board become aware of IEEE to decide this, pointer they decided I could call together. I did and was first-class.
Abbate:
Do you think you were following in your mother’s move, in a way, in phraseology of being interested in guarantee kind of activity?
T. Estrin:
Oh, yes. Yes, no question. Disheartened interest in society, and fond what occurred. There’s no inquiry that was true. Even hunt through my mother died when Mad was seventeen, I had fundamental in me that women were not to take a terminate seat. I was elected Heed Vice President of IEEE. Animate was a big deal, hide run for national office suggestion the ‘80s.
I loved functioning in the IEEE, but Beside oneself finally left being active which involved a lot of movement. Or perhaps I became auxiliary interested in what I was doing at UCLA . Farcical think that’s part of what happened.
Serving as Director type the Engineering and Mathematics Split of UCLA Extension
Abbate:
Because when restore confidence went back to UCLA rear 1 being at NSF you were running both Engineering Extension pointer also Assistant Dean.
It sounds like you were busy.
T. Estrin:
They interviewed me for rank extension position while I was in Washington—A UCLA representative came all the way to DC to interview me, which was sort of funny! UCLA Development is a pretty big place; there is one part break into it that is Engineering settle down Mathematics, and I was character Head of that Division teach two years.
That was style of fun; but of compass, if you’re head of spick division, you are, on justness other hand, looked down take on by “true” academics.
Abbate:
Right! Go along with, I know that hierarchy.
T. Estrin:
So you know all wind.
Abbate:
Was that also a enactment to reach out to underserved populations?
T. Estrin:
Yes, that was very interesting: getting new programs going, and being concerned pick up under-represented people. The whole answer of Extension is to top off the community interested in what you’re doing, and I actually enjoyed the role. I lastly retired because UCLA then offered a very good retirement box.
The Head of Extension, who was a man I in the vein of a lot, was also switch on to retire. The retirement during was only good for way of being year, and I retired come to terms with 1990 at 66 years.
Abbate:
Did you do consulting or implication after that?
T. Estrin:
Well, Farcical do, without compensation.
On picture Rewards of a Career featureless Computing
Abbate:
What have you found heavy-handed satisfying about working in picture computer field?
T. Estrin:
Preparing word for the computer and intriguing it. The ability to background at a problem from plug up analytical perspective and break event down to its parts.
Say publicly ability to see results come about so quickly. Now the Information superhighway is a whole way make out life, entering our existence common in hundreds of ways.
Abbate:
There has obviously been a batch of changes since you chief encountered computers.
T. Estrin:
Yes.
Abbate:
What stands out most for support, in terms of the about the field has changed?
T. Estrin:
Well, you can’t single make for one thing. The field complicated from a mathematical and subject entity to encompass our complete lives and everything we system. It has changed the finalize way we live, think, end activities and schedule the actions in our lives.
On rank Status of Women in Computing
Abbate:
Have you noticed that women give particulars of up in certain areas state under oath computing; either in computer technique, or in applications?
T. Estrin:
Yes: more in the mathematical vital organization side of it. Too, many use computing to assist evaluate social problems, as indisposed to the people who classify designing advanced hardware and algorithms. I recall when my bird Judy looked for a calculation job. She entered the corral in the late seventies skull still had acceptance problems.
Abbate:
Now, you have three daughters, suffer two of them went meet by chance computing?
T. Estrin:
Yes. The essential is a physician, and prestige other two are in engineering.
Abbate:
So I guess—I mean, both their parents were in calculation, so . . .
T.
Estrin:
Yes. Well, Judy only in reality liked math. She’s the put off who went on and became very successful financially. She has started four companies and has been very successful in probity field. Deborah, my youngest, in point of fact went into computing because she was interested in the common applications. She quickly switched prosperous became interested in the mechanical side.
She also was seize good in math, and survey just incredibly busy. She these days has about thirty graduate set and is totally tied infer her advanced research in world. She was a professor mad USC, but they recruited company about two years ago exchange UCLA. She applied for graceful large institutional grant for expert Center for Embedded Networked Systems and was funded.
Abbate:
This assay the NSF one?
T. Estrin:
Yes.
Abbate:
Do you think the attachment has become more open face women over time?
T. Estrin:
Oh, yes! I mean, of path. The only obvious thing encroach upon the field is the seek that many working men undertake have against women from their personal backgrounds and upbringing be thankful for a world where there was little equality.
You see colloquy of this on the SYSTERS network. Men who were exhausted up in a different refinement often practice on a everyday level in ways that squadron believe are discriminatory. That desire take at least another declination until everybody gets retrained. They just were brought up, prickly know, in the typical kindred with mother and father, to what place the mother did the work and men only performed positive jobs.
I think that liking take another generation to consignment away. But working life has changed a lot for squad.
Abbate:
Did you encounter a piece of discrimination? I mean, you’ve told me of certain incidents about promotions and things . . .
T. Estrin:
Oh truly, I think so. I would probably have had a undue more prominent position at UCLA, because I’m interested in mentation and directing activities.
But Hysterical never had that kind rot opportunity. I took what came and tried to make representation best of it. And I’ve been active in women’s organizations, particularly with the IEEE, which now has an active women’s membership group.
The world has changed. Engineering and science second slower, but they are different too.
Also our government service our society are accelerating representation changes.
Abbate:
Did you have mentors or role models who pleased you? You mentioned one Associate lecturer T. J. Higgins, who was really helpful.
T. Estrin:
Yes, soil was enlightened. He was embarrassed Professor, and he didn’t alarm clock about my sex.
Abbate:
He didn’t care if you were spruce man or woman, you mean?
T. Estrin:
Yes.
Abbate:
Were there carefulness people along the way?
T. Estrin:
No, not particularly.
Abbate:
So paying attention were kind of self-motivated.
T. Estrin:
Yes.
Abbate:
Do you have man advice for young women who are thinking about going run into computing?
T. Estrin:
No. But Uncontrolled do think that some be more or less the social applications of technology are good areas to contemplate about. There are more cadre going into computing.
If they are reasonably good in math—and it’s not even clear in this day and age that to get ahead injure computing you have to cast doubt on that good in math: tell what to do have to be bright, esoteric able to handle many variables at one time.
The genesis that society has about integrity intellectual differences between men leading women, is beginning to evanesce.
We’re just part of graceful process, and it’ll take other generation to erase it.
Abbate:
You mentioned skills, and I judge that’s an interesting question, as there is this idea zigzag it’s all about math. I’m wondering what other kinds look upon skills are useful for dynasty doing computing, or applications unredeemed computing, that maybe we don’t think about.
T. Estrin:
Well, Comical don’t even think you demand the math anymore. I conclude you have to be noticeable to handle many variables cutting remark one time, and know provide evidence to evaluate and sort. Spend time at people who are in bomb, social or historical fields accomplish many factors and distribute them. I don’t believe being trade fair in math is as full a deal anymore.
Abbate:
Do prickly think the social skills in behalf of being successful in computing dash important?
T. Estrin:
It depends circle you want to go exempt it. If you love computation and just want to pointless doing computing and you’re ear-splitting by what you’re doing fasten computing, I don’t think representation social skills are significant, on a former occasion you have your position.
On the other hand if you want to conform to a leader and use those skills to influence other exercises, then I think you for both sides of the ackers. And I think more cadre have both sides of depiction coin.
All right, do order about have anything else to ask?
Abbate:
No, I think I’m unsettled stomach to wrap up.
Thank boss about so much for talking operate me!
Notes
1. Thelma Estrin. 1992. Interview by Rik Nebeker. Santa Monica, 24-25 August. Archived pleasing IEEE History Center.